SELMA — Grindal Harris will become the next chief school financial officer, if she clears a background check.

The Selma City School Board voted 3-2 to hire Harris, one of six applicants for the position. Those voting for Harris were Henry Hicks, Brenda Obamanu and Holland Powell.

Frank Chestnut Jr. and Udo Ufomadu voted for the other finalist, Elouise Brown.

The votes came after board members interviewed each finalist.

Harris, of Selma, earned an associate degree in computer science from Wallace Community College Selma and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Alabama Birmingham. She had worked in the Selma City Schools several years ago. She is a senior accountant at Bush Hog.

“Today, we need someone to hit the ground running,” said board president Henry Hicks, as a way of explaining his vote for Harris.

Harris had worked for Selma City Schools from 1993-97 as the federal program bookkeeper.

Hicks appointed Powell to work with the board’s attorney, Katy Campbell, to draw up a contract and begin salary negotiations with Harris.

Harris will also undergo a background check and must be bonded, Campbell said.

The background check would take about two weeks to complete. Bonding could be completed in several days, the attorney said.

The school board did not set a date for Harris to begin work.